The Oil Industry's Climate Deception: A Decades-Long Campaign

For decades, the oil industry has been aware of the dangers of burning fossil fuels and its impact on the climate. However, instead of alerting the public or transitioning to renewable energy, they launched a calculated campaign to discredit climate change science. This article delves into the tactics employed by Big Oil to sow doubt and delay action on climate change.

The Early Warnings

In the 1970s, oil companies employed top atmospheric scientists to assess the environmental impact of their projects. These scientists, along with academics, concluded that burning fossil fuels led to a buildup of atmospheric carbon, trapping heat and increasing surface temperatures. They accurately predicted events like rapid Arctic warming and the melting of Antarctic ice sheets, warning that even a few degrees of increase could be catastrophic.

Internal Discussions, Public Denial

Throughout the 1980s, oil industry representatives repeatedly discussed these dangers internally, acknowledging the risks their products posed to the future. Yet, instead of warning the public or pivoting to renewable energy sources, they doubled down on oil. This decision marked the beginning of a decades-long campaign to undermine climate science.

The PR Offensive

In response to growing public awareness and calls for government action in the late 1980s, the oil industry launched a multi-billion-dollar PR campaign to discredit the science they had once helped pioneer. They employed PR firms previously used by the tobacco industry to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking.

Tactics of Deception

• Lobbying: Oil companies directly lobbied government officials to influence policy decisions.
• Funding Front Groups: They covertly funded organizations like the Global Climate Coalition to obscure the scientific consensus on climate change.
• Attacking Scientists: Credible scientists were attacked to undermine their research and findings.
• Misleading Advertisements: Advertisements disguised as op-eds exaggerated the uncertainty in climate models to dismiss the science entirely. These "advertorials" used alarming titles like "Lies They Tell Our Children" and "Unsettled Science" to grab attention.

Capitalizing on Cold War Anxieties

The industry also exploited Cold War anxieties, equating government regulation with socialism. This tactic shifted the conversation from the science of climate change to a debate about protecting freedom, transforming a non-partisan issue into a political battleground.

Political Influence

After George W. Bush became president in 2001, oil lobbyists successfully pushed his administration to replace officials who supported mainstream climate science with those who opposed environmental regulations. The administration credited the Global Climate Coalition with influencing Bush's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Kyoto Protocol.

Modern Propaganda

The oil industry's PR campaigns continue to shape the climate conversation today. British Petroleum (BP), for example, popularized the phrase "carbon footprint," shifting climate responsibility from the industry to the consumer. The industry also overemphasizes its investments in green energies, such as biofuels, which represent only a tiny fraction of their budgets.

Undermining Climate Negotiations

Oil companies employ numerous lobbyists who attend UN climate meetings and work to weaken the language of IPCC climate assessment reports. They are often allied with oil-producing countries, which have a vested interest in continued fossil fuel use.

The Cost of Inaction

While oil companies' profits reach record highs, climate change costs the public billions of dollars each year. Extreme weather events and decreasing air quality result in millions of deaths annually. The culture of doubt created by the oil industry continues to polarize the issue and delay meaningful action.

Reclaiming the Conversation

It's time to reclaim the conversation and change course. By embracing renewable energies and sustainable practices, we can protect our planet and our future. The first step is acknowledging the historical deception and holding the responsible parties accountable.